Our dreams can unlock our potential for unprecedented growth, sometimes even when we find ourselves away from the confines of a yeshiva. It is interesting to note that just as we read about angels interacting with Yaakov at the beginning of the parsha, there are also angels at the end of the parsha. This time, they do not appear to Yaakov in a dream, but rather in a more direct encounter. After all of the trials and tribulations of living in the house of Lavan, working for 20 years day and night, Yaakov Avinu emerges on a higher spiritual level than when he entered the home straight from yeshiva. By internalizing the messages he received in yeshiva and living the life of a committed Torah true Jew outside of the yeshiva, with all of its temptations and influences, Yaakov Avinu was able to apply the eternal messages of the Torah to the practical world and thereby continue to grow even in the house of Lavan.

About the Author:Rabbi Yosef Kalinsky serves as the Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Torah Studies at Yeshiva University.

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